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Las Vegas is home to socially acceptable debauchery and that is why I love it. You can drink for “free” for hours if you gamble (Which I always do). Whether it is your first time, or you are a frequent visitor, this guide contains some pointers for making the most of your time. Even if you are not a gambler or a drinker, there are other things to do in Las Vegas.

If you play your cards right, Vegas is a world of adventure.

The Basics

Uber is readily available in Vegas. Also, the airport is located super close to the southern end of the strip so depending on where you’re staying a cab might not be obscenely expensive (But cabs often are). In Las Vegas, it is illegal for taxis to pick you up off the streets so if you need a cab just walk over to the nearest hotel taxi line. They now have separate lines for taxis. Another option for getting around cheaply is the bus or the tram. Both will stop at many hotels along the strip.

Go with friends of similar mindset. If you want to party and the persons you’re with do not, the trip will not meet your expectations. This has happened to myself and many other people that I know. Make sure that everyone is on the same page or that your group is big enough to balance out this effect.

The strip is generally safe but my friend did have all of her cash and her id stolen from her purse in a Las Vegas club. Be mindful of your belongings.

If you go in the summer, it will be very hot! I went for Fourth of July weekend and the temperature hit 40 degrees celsius. Drink lots of water and do not spend too much time in direct sunlight. Heat stroke will ruin your trip!

Las Vegas presents a stellar firework show for Independence Day. Casinos rein down fireworks from their rooftops. Or so we hear, we did not hydrate and drank in the sun. Exhausted, we thought we would take a power nap in time for the fireworks. Devastatingly, we missed the entire display. I’m still not over this tragedy and it has been three years. Do better than us!

The dehydrating effects of alcohol typically cause hangovers. Bring a re-usable water bottle with you (Like one of these ones from Camelbak. It is much cheaper than buying plastic water bottles). But if you forget to bring one, buy water bottles from the drug stores (The casino stores tend to cost more), and place this beside your bed. There are CVSs and Walgreens everywhere for basic drug store needs. If you’re going to Vegas to drink, you will need it. I have never actually drank Gatorade for a workout, its role in my life is strictly limited to drinking recovery. Chips are always a win.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada sign.

Choosing a Place to Stay

Are you going to Vegas to gamble? Maybe do other Vegas activities? Or do you want to hit up the Las Vegas clubs? These are some things to consider when picking a hotel. The more south on the strip you go, the closer you will be to some of the bigger name clubs in Vegas (Omnia in Ceasar’s Palace and Hakkasan in MGM Grand often feature bigger name DJs). I’ve heard that the closer you get to Fremont street, which is more northern strip, the gambling odds get better. I also have noticed that the hotels get a bit cheaper. Anywhere you stay there will be alcohol and casinos available.

I’ve stayed in the Stratosphere, Monte Carlo (undergoing a name change but located next to the new T-Mobile arena) and New York New York. Personally, I like to stay somewhere different every time. The Stratosphere was an average of $10 USD Uber to both Fremont Street and New York New York. Pro Tip: Staying in the Stratosphere will get you a discount on the rides and the jump off the building. I am royally bitter that I did not take advantage of this during my stay.

Moving a block or two off of the strip will see a drop in prices and Vegas does have hostels. Generally, I do not care where I sleep because I’m not awake when I’m there. Las Vegas is the only place that I tend to be pickier because I feel like the seedy hotels are probably extra seedy here. Read reviews and think about what you want to see.

A semi-preserved sign from a former Las Vegas hotel.

Gambling Tips

The number one gambling rule that everyone should follow is: Only play with what you are comfortable losing. The odds are never in your favour.

If you double up your money, it could be a good time to walk away. Often when I gamble, if I play $20, and manage to win more than that, I will set aside $20 worth of chips and play off of winnings so that I’m never truly behind. Sadly, this doesn’t always work out but I aim to at least be even. A push is better than a loss.

Get cash before you visit the city! The ATM fees inside casinos can be as high as $10 USD a hit. This is also why I only bring the amount of cash that I am willing to lose gambling out with me. Once my budget is lost (it almost always will be), it is HIGHLY unlikely that I will be willing to pay $10 USD to get another $60 for the night.

It can be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules before your trip. I mostly only stick to blackjack because it is what I enjoy the most and am most familiar with.

That being said, I’ve found that the dealers will help you out if you aren’t sure what to do next.

Once my friend and I played a game deceptively similar to blackjack that was not in fact blackjack. Our dealer told us what we should do and we won! Jackpot baby!!**$25

Something that I’ve gotten in a habit of doing is keeping a $1 chip from all of the casinos I visit. While this does not help with my minimalist ideations, it does help with my memories of places visited.

Just call me Lady Luck… Kidding, I have sporadic luck.

Other Things to do in Las Vegas:

Believe it or not, there is more to Las Vegas than drinking and gambling. I know, I was shocked too.

The super cool Neon Sign museum is worth checking out. It features signs from former casinos. If you decide to go, buy your tickets ahead of time. They will sell out. The day we went, they were out of tickets by 2:00 pm. The guided tour takes about an hour and provides some interesting Las Vegas history.

The Neon Museum features signs from previous hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. So long Sahara!

There are rides for the amusement park lover. The LINQ casino boasts one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the world. And it is impressive, I checked it out at night and the view was unbelievable. The Stratosphere has some risky rides on the roof of their building. Plus, the New York New York has a roller coaster with a fantastic view of the south end of the strip.

As always, a drink with a view, from the LINQ High Roller.

You can shop… The bus will take you to the North Outlet mall, which is my favourite. Or, there are The Forum shops in Caesar’s Palace, this is similar the average mall at home. Orrr, higher end casinos like the Bellagio have the next level unaffordable designer things (I love the idea of a designer handbag but I have visited other countries for less than those price tags and that fact always grounds my fantasies).

For free, you can poke your head into the “Pawn Stars,” pawnshop. I was very tempted to buy something just for the sake of having something from here. Side Note: There were a lot of wedding rings here. I do not know if it is related to the amount of Las Vegas wedding chapels but doesn’t that feel like a bad omen? Clearly, the ring is there because something did not quite work out.

The Pawn Stars tv show pawn shop is located in Vegas.

The Bellagio has a free fountain show which is kind of neat.

The Bellagio Fountain show facing the Paris hotel.

There is now a NHL hockey team! My last trip to Vegas was based around my local hockey teams schedule. And it was so much fun! There was a good balance of people who shared this idea and went to support Edmonton and Las Vegas Knights fans. This made for great energy, no matter who scored or what happened there were people cheering.

Edmonton Oilers defeat Las Vegas Knights in T-Mobile arena.

Stay tuned, the Raiders are moving to Vegas. Soon you can also cheer for your favourite NFL team.

There are a variety of Cirque de Soleil shows in different hotels. We checked out Zumanity (The scandalous 18+ show ;)) and had an absolute blast. But if you want a show less provocative, there is also a Beatles tribute. You can find tickets online or through your hotel’s concierge.

Las Vegas Nightlife

Gambling aside, Las Vegas has some fancy clubs. The best way to avoid cover is to watch for club promoters. Often they will just flat out approach you and inquire about your plans for the evening. But, if you see someone near a club, wearing clothing featuring the club, there is a good chance they are promoting for that club. The exchange will include giving your full name (for the guest list) and your phone number to confirm details. This is a no catch exchange. You can get your name on the list and decide not to go at no cost to you. Some guest lists end earlier than others. For example, if Tao ends at 10:00 pm but Omnia ends at 1:00 am, you could hypothetically check out both in one night. I like to go early so that the lines are shorter and the club less brimming with people. I wish I could say that clubs are like bags of chips, more air than people, but alas they are often packed.

Too many stamps from trying to go to too many clubs.

Beware, DRINKS IN CLUBS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY EXPENSIVE. Heed my word. Arrive drunk, if that is your goal for the night.

Things to do Outside of Las Vegas

The Hoover Dam and West Rim of the Grand Canyon are both feasible visits from Vegas. I have successfully used a Groupon for a bus ride to the Grand Canyon with a distant glance at the Hoover. On a subsequent trip, my significant other and I rented a car for 1.5 days to drive ourselves there. This is a bit more of a tiring option as both of you can’t sleep on the bus but does allow some freedom. A friend of mine has done the bus, car rental, AND the helicopter tour. Of the three, she most recommends the helicopter tour so that will be my next way of seeing the Grand Canyon (There are Groupons for helicopter tours). If you decide to self-drive to the Grand Canyon leave early as the sun will leave the Canyon later in the day making it even harder to capture great photos.

The Hoover Dam tours can fill up, so look at going early or buying tickets ahead of time.

The Nevada and Arizona state line crosses through the Hoover Dam.

We also used our rental car to check out Fire Valley, located one hour away from the city, this place was absolutely stunning. I would go again tomorrow if I could. There are a variety of hikes throughout the Valley. Go early, the park closes at sunset, and in the summer the temperature will be quite high. I did not notice anywhere to buy water so bring plenty with you.Welcome to Valley of Fire State park.

View from White Domes hike in Valley of Fire State Park.

I’ve written about my love for Vegas before, and I’m sure I will again because I can almost never say no to Las Vegas. No matter what you decide to do, make the most of your time! It will fly by and casinos are designed to make you lose track of it.

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Much to my chagrin, I didn’t have much time in London. As such we had a bit of a whirlwind trip trying to see as many of the landmarks as possible. In this guide I will touch on what those landmarks were so that you will know how to see London when you’re short on time.

My flight got into Gatwick Airport and I was able to catch a National Express Bus for 8 pounds to the Victoria Station, once I arrived there I paid 12 pounds to get to my hotel. However, I could have easily taken the tube to Earl’s Court Station and walked the rest of the way. As I had anticipated the exhaustion I booked my first night in the Garden View Hotel. This place was adorable and I found the beds comfy.

One thing that I wanted to make sure I ate in London was fish n’ chips. After some quick research I found a place called Poppies Fish and Chips which I was easily able to reach by the tube. The place was very busy which is always a great sign. They have two separate lines depending on whether you want takeaway, served in a newspaper, or to sit down for your meal. I opted for a table for one. The restaurant was set up to look like a 1950s diner. The décor was cute and surrounded by the noise of laughter, chatting, and forks clattering against plates.

The super tasty fish n’ chips at Poppies.

I honestly, did not know what to do with myself so I ended up riding the tube to Baker Street (Holla, Sherlock!) and purchasing a few souvenirs for my family. This is also where Madame Tussauds is located. I visited one of these when I was 17 years old in New York and I now consider myself set for life on the wax figures front.

The Sherlock Holmes statute on Baker Street

Jess arrived very early the next day so we set out for some sightseeing after transferring our stuff to the Walrus Bar and Hostel where we spent the remainder of our nights in London. This hostel had a very cute bar located downstairs. The location was right by Waterloo Station, which made getting around easy. An unfortunate consequence was noise volume. The traffic and trains were so disruptive.

Standard London Bridge shot.

We made some rapid photo stops around the city (see my list below), before scrambling back to our hostel to change for our Alice in Wonderland High Tea at The Sanderson Hotel. I cannot recommend this more. It was super expensive; however, it was amazing. The patio was serene. The menu is displayed in an old book, which adds to the fantasy feel. Everyone is well dressed and conversations are carried out quietly between tables. We ate the most amazing toasted ham and cheese sandwich of life. The desserts are intricately decorated to look like sights you might see in Alice’s dream. They were almost too adorable to eat. Of course, the tea was amazing and you can drink it bottomlessly.

So delicious!

On our way home, we stopped for a few drinks in the darling area of Carnaby Street. Many bars had decent happy hour prices and all of the bars were packed.

On our return trip to London, we spent our last day in Harry Potter bliss. Firstly, we stopped by King’s Cross Station for some Platform 9 ¾ photos. The experience has been commercialized. There are now professional photographers waiting to take your photo that can be purchased in the gift shop. The line is also quite long. However, I felt compelled to have a photo and so I did. Jess and I were able to take photos of each other on my phone without causing too much ruckus.

Afterwards we journeyed out to Leavesden for the Harry Potter Studio Tour. You absolutely have to do this if you are a Harry Potter fan like us. Words cannot describe how phenomenal it was to be there. The set designers paid so much intricate attention to details. There are so many small things that you will never notice just having watched the movies. In the potions classroom, each bottle of ingredients has been painstakingly labeled by hand. I was blown away seeing how much effort went into creating those movies. Give yourself a lot of time to get there. It took over an hour by train but it was well worth it.

Game of chess anyone?

My last stop in London the morning I left was to visit the Millennium Bridge. This was another Harry Potter themed stop. You may recognize it as the bridge collapsed by Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

To get to Heathrow I took the Piccadilly train line, very simple. Minimal bag struggle.

How To See London When You’re Short on Time- Top Sights to See

Tower of London

Tower Bridge

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Fun Fact: Big Ben is actually the name of the bell located inside the tower.

London Eye: I rode this my second night there. If you are going to do it, book your tickets online. You will save money!

The London Eye along River Thames.

Shakespeare’s Globe

Millennium Bridge: This is for the Harry Potter fans.

Bye, bye bridge!

Trafalgar Square

Piccadilly Circus: Piccadilly Circus gave me flashbacks to Times Square in New York. We didn’t actually stop but passed through in our cab on our way to high tea.

Westminster Abbey

Buckingham Palace: Changing of the guards happens only once per day and Jess and I were lucky enough to accidentally encounter it. On top of the palace you will either see an empty flagpole or a flag flying. When the flag is flying that means the Queen is in residence. Click here for the current changing of the guard schedule.

We had an excellent accidental spot for the Changing of the Guard.

St James Park: London is full of beautiful parks. I wish that I could have visited them all.

Have High Tea: We selected the Mad Hatters High Tea at The Sanderson Hotel. This was our most expensive meal but also well worth it. We had a great time, the food was adorable and the tea was great. This was the reason I lugged my fancy Kate Spade dress around Europe with me.

Tea time.

Things I wish I had Done:

Portobello Market

Camden Market

Tower of London: I would have loved to actually go inside a site so rich with history.

Royal Observatory: Once inside you can have one foot in western hemisphere and one in the right hemisphere.

Sunday Roast: I tried to visit The Stanhope Arms for it; however, for Sunday Roast you have to go super early because places sell out. I ended up having a Lamb Shank Shepherd’s Pie that was mouthwatering but I’m sad to have missed out on such a tradition.

Saw a play at one of the many theatres. The only night I had time for this was the night I arrived and thankfully I didn’t end up doing it as I would have fallen asleep.

Always make sure to see Big Ben.

Getting Around in London:

London has an excellent underground system, lovingly called The Tube, using this you can get almost anywhere in the city easily. Each station has London Underground Tube Maps. These are tiny and can easily stowed in a bag for quick referencing. If you are staying in London for a few days pick up an Oyster Card as this is the cheapest option for getting around the city, otherwise you will have to buy daily passes which can add up. At the end of your trip, make sure you return the Oyster Card for your 5 pound refund.

London also has Uber. Taking Ubers can add up but it is nice to have the option. There were also standard taxies readily available.

Naturally, you have to ride a double decker bus at least once. They are the London icon of public transit. If you can, take a seat in the second level and sit in very front.

London is a very walkable city. I am always a big fan of walking in other cities because you really get to see and experience the city.

Mysteries of Stonehenge

An excursion that I booked through Golden Tours was to visit Stonehenge. Stonehenge is over 5000 years old and no knows what purpose it served. The actual construction would have taken a ton of manpower and fierce determination. There are many theories on why Stonehenge was created but in the end we can only guess. I visited Stonehenge because I believe when it comes to travel you should take the opportunities that arise. I noticed on Expedia that there were daily trips out here and I thought that it would be an excellent use of one of my days alone.

Stonehenge, exactly what you’d expect, but still cool.

The tour also included Bath for a visit to the Roman Bathhouses and Windsor to visit the Windsor Castle. I only cared for Stonehenge.

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About Me

Hi, I'm Arielle and these are my adventures. I seek budget travel, good food, and authentic experiences all in the name of completing my bucket list. I love cats, books, and anything Harry Potter. You can expect to hear from me every second Tuesday with updates on my quest to complete my bucket list by 40 years old. Read More…